74 



obtain a specimen ; and he assures me that he is quite convinced that he was not mistaken as to 

 the bird observed by him being really the Sinaitic Rose Finch. It appears to be tolerably 

 common in Mount Sinai, where it was first discovered by Hemprich and Ehrenberg ; and 

 Mr. C. W. Wyatt, who obtained in the Sinaitic peninsula the specimen I have figured, says (Ibis, 

 1870, p. 16) that it is "local, frequenting the higher parts of the mountains, the plains of Er 

 Rahah, and Wadys Lejah and T'lah," and he also met with it in Wady Aleiyat, at the foot of 

 Mount Serbal. 



Von Heuglin says (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 654), the present species "lives in pairs and small 

 flocks in Arabia Petrsea, frequenting rocks, sunny places in the precipices, pastures, and places 

 where the rain collects. It is a very lively and somewhat shy species, feeds on small seeds, and 

 probably migrates during the winter. I never saw it on bushes. When disturbed it flies off 

 uttering its call-note, flying close to the ground, and generally settles again amongst stones." 

 Beyond the above meagre data I find no information respecting the present species. 



In habits it is stated to assimilate more closely to the Trumpeter Bullfinch than to any 

 other of the Carjpodacus group, and to be a frequenter of arid, stony localities, seldom found 

 amongst bushes, and never on trees, whereas the other species of Carpoclacus are frequenters of 

 trees and woodlands. Judging, however, from an examination of the feet of the specimen I have 

 before me, I should say that it does perch not unfrequently. 



I purposed to figure this species, however, seated on a stone ; but my artist has in error put 

 it on the branch of a bush, a position far less suited to its general habits — a mistake I discovered 

 only when too late to have any alteration made. 



In the specific name of this bird I have followed Bonaparte and other later authorities in 

 reverting to the name given, but not published, by Lichtenstein (who forwarded to Temminck 

 the specimens figured in the 'Planches Coloriees'), as being more correct than the name given 

 by Temminck. 



The specimen figured, the only one I have had an opportunity of examining, is an adult 

 male obtained by Mr. C. W. Wyatt on the plain of Er Rahah, in the peninsula of Sinai, on the 

 29th March, 1869, and is now in the collection of Canon Tristram. 



